Why do people “watch” coins on eBay?
Panda4456
Posts: 362 ✭✭✭
Why do people watch coins? I have had several listings with 20+ watchers and the coin is around 20 dollars or best offer. Why don’t people pull the trigger and buy the coin or make me an offer? Why do they sit there and “watch” it for months? I never understood this....
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I watch way more coins than I buy. Sometimes it's because I want to see if the coin can sell for the listed price, or sell at all. Sometimes it's because it's too expensive but I want to know if the seller lowers the price or makes and offer to watchers. Sometimes I watch coins on my want list but that aren't first priority and I don't want to commit budget to it yet. I watch at least 10 items for every one I win or buy.
Does this help explain it for you? Do you understand now?
IG: DeCourcyCoinsEbay: neilrobertson
"Numismatic categorizations, if left unconstrained, will increase spontaneously over time." -me
Sometimes waiting for you to drop the price.
Sometimes waiting for an ebay bucks offer or coupon.
Sometimes comparison shopping.
May have a similar coin and want to see if it will sell and for how much.
I usually watch coins that I need or want, just don't have the money at the time. I watch them so I don't forget the ones I need and watch them for the ones I eventually want. Usually my need coins are one's for my registry.
My Original Song Written to my late wife-"Plus other original music by me"
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8A11CC8CC6093D80
https://n1m.com/bobbysmith1
on ebay, sometimes i watch a coin to i remember to look at it later and bid...or just to see what price it goes for. i think it's a helpful feature for people who have a coin like the one they are watching (or similar) and want to see what that coin sells for.
most of the time i watch coins, i am looking through a auction and tagging the ones that i might want to bid on when the auction is close to ending...especially on sites like great collections or heritage, whatever. there are so many and i just add the ones that are interesting to my list to look at again on auction day.
I "watch" many coins on E-Bay. Most I have no interest in buying.
If I want to negotiate I will usually contact the buyer with a best offer.
Most often I watch a coin to see if it sells. Once it does I can better judge what my similar coin is worth.
Sometimes I'll watch a coin just to annoy the seller...
People can watch my listings all they want, I don't care. In fact, I have my "My eBay" listing page set up so that it doesn't show the number of watchers. So there.
Sometimes I’m looking for a nice example of a certain coin and I watch ones I find but then keep looking to see if I can find a better example. If I can’t find a better one I’ll often come back and bid on it.
Mr_Spud
The only reason I ever know someone is watching because the "send an offer" shows up for some listings.
I'll put a coin on my watch list if I'm thinking about sniping it.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
As a seller, I love watchers. From my Ebay store I can send any watchers offers on the coin for them to buy.
Ironic, as I never watch stuff that I am really interested in bidding on, as I don't want to tip my hand.
I only watch stuff that I just want to see how it sold.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
I watch particular Buffalo nickel abraded die varieties to see what they sell for. Ebay is one of several sources I follow for updating values in my book. I also watch them to see if I can make up my mind whether to bid or snipe certain coins.
Cheap entertainment.
I have several threads on samples and luncheon slabs - I may have no interest in the coin/slab but want to update the price history now and then - easy to see if "watching" - o/w will forget to look it up.
Like many I may interested in that coin or one of that date/mm and will watch far more than I will ever buy. I have at least 10-15 coins on my watchlist that I will never buy at any given time.
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
Waiting for payday?
ANA 50 year/Life Member (now "Emeritus")
Yep, I've had sellers send me discounts on a coin I'm watching. Some I have taken their offer. Good tool!
My Original Song Written to my late wife-"Plus other original music by me"
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8A11CC8CC6093D80
https://n1m.com/bobbysmith1
the price listed is above and beyond what I am willing to spend
there are so many over priced coins on Ebay
You can list your coin for sale at any price but I am not the fool to buy or bid on it but will watch to see who bids or buys it
If it doesn't sell I will offer a buy it now price that corresponds to the Pcgs listing value
Kennedys are my quest...
I watch an item to see if I still like it for the price a few days later. Usually I don’t and let it play out just to see the final price or if it sold at all.
I have noticed lately, that when I like an item, I sometimes get a lower offer from seller the next day, which is nicer than me making an offer first.
I watch any coin that interests me, maybe price is too high at first, maybe interested to see if it actually sells at that price point, many reasons besides buying. But I will say this, the sellers price never bothers me for a coin I am interested in. I have made offers(always fair and not a slap in the face) well below the asking price and have purchased them even at the 25% level. The price is only ridiculous while it is the only price. Make it your price, all that can happen is be refused or ignored. I have never been treated poorly by an offer.
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
I'll save a coin to do a little research on it such as VAMS and such. I'll also watch something I'm interested in purchasing but undecided about spending the money. For seriously expensive coins that I have no way of buying I just like to see and admire them for their rarity and beauty.
It's a fun place.
I use the Watch feature to remind me! when People put coins on for such a long time, like six days or more, when they are going to sell anyway, why wait so long? I forget things that don't happen within a couple of days. And I don't save sellers only coins I'm interested in.
We’re living in a pandemic and lots of people have nothing better to do. There’s only so much Netflix to watch.
ALL of the above.
(Sometimes it is obvious from the way a seller lists or acts that they are not also buyers on ebay.
)
For me, it is a way to bookmark an item, an invitation to the seller to send me am offer, or a way to exit until an Ebay bucks offer comes along.
I sometimes watch coins if I have one for sale and I want to see what the competition is shooting for. Maybe I’m too high or too low? Usually watchers are scouting the competition not buying.
A lot of times I just want to see what they sell for because I have a similar coin that I may want to sell. The seller may send an offer. There are many reasons to watch a coin. I watch a lot of stuff just for the fun of it.
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/mysetregistry/set/172592
I use the watch to compare prices and sometimes, just maybe, a seller will send me a PM with a % off deal. You never know; you might get lucky.
When the auction is from a motivated seller, an unsolicited discount to buy-it-now is offered. The last one I received was:
Here is a buyer offer made in error. Roughly 2 oz of 24 Kt gold for $74.00
Another example.
Watching auctions on ebay is slightly better than watching paint dry, that's why....
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
I would say a lot of them are broke or won’t pay the money.
I watch items to put in AS.
I used to watch items when I was planning to snipe.... That way I did not add to the bid column.... Cheers, RickO
I watch coins because sometimes I need to wait until payday to buy something. Other times I just like to see if I can find something for a better price.
Looking at the example in the OP, watching a $20 coin with an OBO option may be a bookmark for someone to whom $20 is significant (with numerous possible reasons) or who is bookmarking for comparison purposes. I recently bookmarked (watched) some inexpensive coins to complete my modern type so as to compare a number of listings for quality. Probably a common reason when it comes to coins that are readily available.
I could have written this exact response, except my ratio of watches to purchases is probably closer to 50 to 1.
Sean Reynolds
"Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
I have a coin listed on eBay for $1.50 and there are two people watching it.
No, I'm not kidding. So like you, I don't understand it.
Can we get a link to this auction? If a bunch of forum members here add it to our watch lists, it will blow their mind.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
And push it up in Best Match!
.... because people on Facebook, Twitter, and other sites bore me.
I will watch on eBay ones I may enter into AS. Like a coach cherry picking a list of recruits. Then may enter into AS 60-80 pct of CDN bid to get it in there w note on bid or what I plan sell it for. Later as auc close approaching items culled out (bid up too high) for final picks. World coins and BN bid pct of what plan sell for.
Then if won / purchased list in online store / display in case at shows for retail.
I will search coins I need for my collection every day so I will watch them then go back to my list and sort out afterwards also the ones I’m interested in I wait to see if the seller will send a discount
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/quarters/washington-quarters-major-sets/washington-quarters-date-set-circulation-strikes-1932-present/publishedset/209923
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/quarters/washington-quarters-major-sets/washington-quarters-date-set-circulation-strikes-1932-present/album/209923
Owners “watching” their consignments?
I was watching an item on multiple accounts so I wouldn't forget it. Made a fair offer and seller said "I never discount something with this much interest" Told him I'd check back later. I unwatched and he accepted offer.
Any recommendations on snipe programs?
Both gavel snipe and esnipe have failed to execute recently for me: One due to some captcha and the other for a limitation that I had never had before.